Raytheon GBU-53/B StormBreaker / SDB II / Small Diameter Bomb II

Forest Green said:
38lbs.
aviationsmilitaires.net

Boeing GBU-39/B SDB

En 1995, l'USAF lança le programme MMTD (Miniaturized Munitions Technology Demonstration) afin de construire une nouvelle génération de bombes de 113 kg (250 lbs). Le but de ces bombes est …
aviationsmilitaires.net aviationsmilitaires.net
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Boeing says 36 lbs. I'll take their word for it.


Now, that number does not include the casing, and the Focused Lethality Munition warhead with a light carbon-fiber case apparently has a lot more fill (but much less lethal radius).


But GMLRS clearly still brings more bang.
 
Forest Green said:
It does, but whilst total warhead weight is 90kg, explosive filling weight is around 23kg (51lbs) I think.

www.gd-ots.com

Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) Unitary Warhead

A state-of-the art 195 lb. fragmenting unitary warhead for the Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS).
www.gd-ots.com www.gd-ots.com
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Good number. I'm not sure if the AW version with tungsten frag changes the specific explosive fill weight, but it certainly has a much wider area effect that the Unitary version. Unitary was designed for reduced collateral damage; AW is designed to increase area of effect and approach the terminal effects of ICM.
 
asVAL said:
On the other hand, the average UAF soldier probably has designating-capable quads down to the backpack level.
Id argue that a thermobaric SDB-I to knock out the various trenches that block Ukrainian advances would be a godsend for the current stagnating situation.
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GLSDB is for sniping S400 sites etc.

Your regular artillery, including HIMARS and MLRS, is for burning trenches.
 
asVAL said:
On the other hand, the average UAF soldier probably has designating-capable quads down to the backpack level.
Id argue that a thermobaric SDB-I to knock out the various trenches that block Ukrainian advances would be a godsend for the current stagnating situation.
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There are very few laser designation drones available to the Ukrainian's. Primarily they're donations from Western countries like Puma.
 
timmymagic said:
There are very few laser designation drones available to the Ukrainian's. Primarily they're donations from Western countries like Puma.
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Laser designation is a bit more complicated than people realize, starting with needing to make sure that the designator and bomb are set to the same modulation and no one else nearby is using the same code. There's a reason we concentrate that ability into dedicated FACs instead of flooding out out to everyone.
 
Sandboxx put out this interesting video about the Stormbreaker a couple of days ago:


Over the past few years, American tactical aircraft have been integrating a new kind of glidebomb that’s so broadly capable, you could argue it makes the JDAM itself look like a dumb bomb…
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With a tri-mode seeker, onboard artificial intelligence, and the ability to locate, identify, and close with even moving targets, this new weapon, dubbed Stormbreaker, pushes the very limits of what bombs are thought to be capable of.
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www.twz.com

StormBreaker Advanced Glide Bomb Lands In Yemen Largely Intact

The cutting-edge StormBreaker was only recently confirmed as being used in combat and could be of major intelligence value to an adversary. The cutting-edge StormBreaker was only recently confirmed as being used in combat and could be of significant intelligence value to an adversary.
www.twz.com www.twz.com
 
Realistically, how much can you learned from a dud weapon to affect the same system's effectiveness in the next deployment?

I would think most of the capabilities are software based, and there is no way to extract source codes from them to learn more ....

As for hardware aspects, you may learn about "this" and "that", but without manufacturing capacity, there is not way someone can duplicate item for item ......
 
zjz said:
Realistically, how much can you learned from a dud weapon to affect the same system's effectiveness in the next deployment?
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Not the Houthis but Iran (And by extension Russia) have the technical expertise to learn something from an intact example.

zjz said:
and there is no way to extract source codes from them to learn more ....
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The source-code can be decompiled for analysis.
 
NMaude said:
Not the Houthis but Iran (And by extension Russia) have the technical expertise to learn something from an intact example.



The source-code can be decompiled for analysis.
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If I had designed this, I’d put a real nasty surprise within the software for anyone who downloaded it after the thermal battery had activated. Maybe also a self corrupting software triggered in the last second of battery life. Both of these are quite easy to do and follow the well known mantra of don’t make it easy for your enemy.
 
www.rtx.com

RTX's Raytheon completes Ground-Launched StormBreaker® test

TUCSON,Ariz., Sept. 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon, an RTX (NYSE: RTX) business, has completed a test for a ground-launched variant of the StormBreaker® smart weapon. The business designed, developed and tested the new variant in 50 days. The test was held this spring at a private test range...
www.rtx.com www.rtx.com
 
aonestudio said:
www.rtx.com

RTX's Raytheon completes Ground-Launched StormBreaker® test

TUCSON,Ariz., Sept. 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon, an RTX (NYSE: RTX) business, has completed a test for a ground-launched variant of the StormBreaker® smart weapon. The business designed, developed and tested the new variant in 50 days. The test was held this spring at a private test range...
www.rtx.com www.rtx.com
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Well it's good to see Raytheon has finally got around to demonstrating a ground-launched version of the SDB-II, IMO it was just a matter of time once Boeing and SAAB successfully demonstrated and put into production their GLSDB with Ukraine using it in combat. I find it curious that Raytheon used a COTS rocket-booster instead of a surplus M26 rocket-motor for the demonstration though.​
 
xena said:
I am not subscriber. Can you please tell a bit more?
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There wasn't a huge amount there (not Tony Osborne's fault though, Raytheon are clearly 'floating' an early idea). Essentially Raytheon are looking to make a British derivative of SDBII, probably at the Glenrothe's, Scotland site that exclusively makes Paveway IV. How 'different' this SDBII would be from a US one is still unclear. All of this is as a result of the delays in MBDA Spear integration on F-35 at present...AND the clear need for gliding munitions, of which the UK has none, that has been seen in Ukraine.

The below is my best guess....

I think the derivative of SDBII that could be proposed is a 'Stormbreaker Simple' (I've previously evangelised for a 'SpearSimple', which eventually became the MRUSW study and now appears to be real in the form of the new, less complex than Spear, SpearGlide variant). Basically 'Stormbreaker Simple' would be a GPS/INS and probably SAL only version to make it a lot cheaper....utilising Paveway IV guidance components. Removes a lot of cost with the MMW/IIR seeker, and also doesn't step on Spear's toes as much. They may figure that this is politically palatable along with production in the UK. Using Paveway IV internals and the Stormbreaker shape, both of which are integrated already on F-35 would make integration very, very easy.

Worth noting that Raytheon also showed a Paveway IV with gliding wing kit at DSEI25 as well...something that was investigated over a decade ago that never proceeded. It could also prevent an order from happening for Boeing's SDB1...and potentially throw a spanner in the works for SpearGlide....The reason for GPS/INS AND SAL is because the UK has usually wanted a man in the loop option for guidance to avoid civilian casualties/provide greater accuracy (hence their reliance on Paveway IV rather than a JDAM style munition as their main A2G munition).
 
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timmymagic said:
There wasn't a huge amount there (not Tony Osborne's fault though, Raytheon are clearly 'floating' an early idea). Essentially Raytheon are looking to make a British derivative of SDBII, probably at the Glenrothe's, Scotland site that exclusively makes Paveway IV. How 'different' this SDBII would be from a US one is still unclear. All of this is as a result of the delays in MBDA Spear integration on F-35 at present...AND the clear need for gliding munitions, of which the UK has none, that has been seen in Ukraine.

The below is my best guess....

I think the derivative of SDBII that could be proposed is a 'Stormbreaker Simple' (I've previously evangelised for a 'SpearSimple', which eventually became the MRUSW study and now appears to be real in the form of the new, less complex than Spear, SpearGlide variant). Basically 'Stormbreaker Simple' would be a GPS/INS and probably SAL only version to make it a lot cheaper....utilising Paveway IV guidance components. Removes a lot of cost with the MMW/IIR seeker, and also doesn't step on Spear's toes as much. They may figure that this is politically palatable along with production in the UK. Using Paveway IV internals and the Stormbreaker shape, both of which are integrated already on F-35 would make integration very, very easy.

Worth noting that Raytheon also showed a Paveway IV with gliding wing kit at DSEI25 as well...something that was investigated over a decade ago that never proceeded. It could also prevent an order from happening for Boeing's SDB1...and potentially throw a spanner in the works for SpearGlide....The reason for GPS/INS AND SAL is because the UK has usually wanted a man in the loop option for guidance to avoid civilian casualties/provide greater accuracy (hence their reliance on Paveway IV rather than a JDAM style munition as their main A2G munition).
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Just to add...I'm a little conflicted on this....

RAF desperately needs a Gliding munition or 2....so the wing kit for Paveway IV should at least be shooting at an open goal...mind you that was also the case 10 years ago....and it didn't proceed then...

But I've previously been very keen on a limited order of, say 1,000 of each, SDB1 and JDAM GBU-32(v)2. These would:
  1. Increase UK stockpiles quicker and far, far cheaper than Paveway IV could, which in the current security environment isn't a bad thing.
  2. Provide the UK with a small gliding munition quickly that wouldn't get in Spear's way...
  3. Provide a larger PGM than Paveway IV (now that Enhanced Paveway II and III are on the way out)
  4. Give the UK's F-35 fleet something apart from Paveway IV to drop until we can get Spear and SpearGlide...
  5. Given some German plans they might even, eventually, also be integrated on Typhoon
  6. Given US Navy plans provide some air to ground munitions for the P-8 Poseidon fleet...and potentially a route, in JDAM's case, to Quickstrike and Quicksink munitions for that fleet....that could also apply to F-35 off the carriers as well...
  7. And.....the most crucial point....just be a limited expedient, that wouldn't give the US an 'In' to the UK air weapons market again....
The last point is pretty important, and is partly why I'm so conflicted around a UK built Stormbreaker equivalent....we might need additional munitions desperately....but I think this might be a step too far....I was hoping that at some point MBDA would force Raytheon out of the UK market....I've no issue with buying US munitions if there is no Domestic/European viable alternative (Quicksink and Quickstrike for example). but we have to protect our GW industry.
 
timmymagic said:
The last point is pretty important, and is partly why I'm so conflicted around a UK built Stormbreaker equivalent....we might need additional munitions desperately....but I think this might be a step too far....I was hoping that at some point MBDA would force Raytheon out of the UK market...
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But then a UK production line for SDBII is UK jobs, economic growth etc. and good for NATO increasing production rate and more resilience in the supplier base etc.
 
red admiral said:
But then a UK production line for SDBII is UK jobs, economic growth etc. and good for NATO increasing production rate and more resilience in the supplier base etc.
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A UK 'production line' would be nothing but assembly from parts only....it would be a handful of personnel vs. Sovereign capability at MBDA....including parts, design and manufacture...
 
timmymagic said:
A UK 'production line' would be nothing but assembly from parts only....it would be a handful of personnel vs. Sovereign capability at MBDA....including parts, design and manufacture...
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It doesn't have to be. Could be wholly new second supply chain. e.g. why transport explosive filler transatlantic Vs use UK suppliers?

But we don't know what's being proposed
 
timmymagic said:
RAF desperately needs a Gliding munition or 2....so the wing kit for Paveway IV should at least be shooting at an open goal...mind you that was also the case 10 years ago....and it didn't proceed then...

But I've previously been very keen on a limited order of, say 1,000 of each, SDB1 and JDAM GBU-32(v)2. These would:
  1. Increase UK stockpiles quicker and far, far cheaper than Paveway IV could, which in the current security environment isn't a bad thing.
  2. Provide the UK with a small gliding munition quickly that wouldn't get in Spear's way...
  3. Provide a larger PGM than Paveway IV (now that Enhanced Paveway II and III are on the way out)
  4. Give the UK's F-35 fleet something apart from Paveway IV to drop until we can get Spear and SpearGlide...
  5. Given some German plans they might even, eventually, also be integrated on Typhoon
  6. Given US Navy plans provide some air to ground munitions for the P-8 Poseidon fleet...and potentially a route, in JDAM's case, to Quickstrike and Quicksink munitions for that fleet....that could also apply to F-35 off the carriers as well...
  7. And.....the most crucial point....just be a limited expedient, that wouldn't give the US an 'In' to the UK air weapons market again....
The last point is pretty important, and is partly why I'm so conflicted around a UK built Stormbreaker equivalent....we might need additional munitions desperately....but I think this might be a step too far....I was hoping that at some point MBDA would force Raytheon out of the UK market....I've no issue with buying US munitions if there is no Domestic/European viable alternative (Quicksink and Quickstrike for example). but we have to protect our GW industry.
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i'm never hear it about Paveway IV with wing kit? "Paveway IV-ER" ooooo nice, i wonder what extended range (how many miles) for it ?

until i research it and find it

https://en.defence-ua.com/weapon_an...v_if_those_are_supplied_to_ukraine-10296.html (2024) Longshot is old idea.


https://www.spasconsulting.com/p/wingglide-kits-for-laser-guided-bombs (2025)

maybe worth add Quicksink tech on Paveway IV-ER so easy swap each other in 1 is better option for the attack add to Typhoon or Tempest, even CCA Drone, out-reach Destroyer anti-air defence

So SDB 2 vs Spear Glide
Spear Glide (Simple) is it a 220lb warhead not 250lb similar to SDB 2? If yes, then the UK should use Spear Glide over the SDB 2. and production in the Uk. rather SDB 2
 
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djpowell1984 said:
i'm never hear it about Paveway IV with wing kit? "Paveway IV-ER" ooooo nice, i wonder what extended range (how many miles) for it ?

until i research it and find it

https://en.defence-ua.com/weapon_an...v_if_those_are_supplied_to_ukraine-10296.html (2024) Longshot is old idea.


https://www.spasconsulting.com/p/wingglide-kits-for-laser-guided-bombs (2025)

maybe worth add Quicksink tech on Paveway IV-ER so easy swap each other in 1 is better option for the attack add to Typhoon or Tempest, even CCA Drone, out-reach Destroyer anti-air defence

So SDB 2 vs Spear Glide
Spear Glide (Simple) is it a 220lb warhead not 250lb similar to SDB 2? If yes, then the UK should use Spear Glide over the SDB 2. and production in the Uk. rather SDB 2
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Longshot from Leigh Aerosystems was long ago sold to Lockheed Martin in 2003....


But....Leigh Aerosystems then went and immediately developed the Smart Wing Adaptor Kit (SWAK)....a further developed LongShot, however no-one ever purchased it.....if you wanted a cheap and easy way to get into the winged guidance kit market the easiest thing would be to approach Leigh and buy the SWAK IP lock, stock and barrel....they'd probably sell it for a decent price in order to try and get some of the costs back that have long languished on their books with no return...


As for QuickSink and Quickstrike? I think the need for a 1,000lb to 2,000lb warhead would outweigh any potential benefits to integrating the kit on a 500lb Paveway IV, best not to reinvent the wheel for those...Quickstrike is specifically designed to use the JDAM-ER already, I suspect Quicksink would also use the ER wing if necessary.

SDBII Stormbreaker vs SpearGlide is likely to be very similar in terms of overall weight. We know Stormbreaker is 92kgs (204lbs). I suspect SpearGlide will be almost exactly the same size. All we know about Spear's weight is that MBDA say it is <100kg (220lb's) with some commentators saying it is c90kg (198.5lbs).
 
timmymagic said:
Longshot from Leigh Aerosystems was long ago sold to Lockheed Martin in 2003....


But....Leigh Aerosystems then went and immediately developed the Smart Wing Adaptor Kit (SWAK)....a further developed LongShot, however no-one ever purchased it.....if you wanted a cheap and easy way to get into the winged guidance kit market the easiest thing would be to approach Leigh and buy the SWAK IP lock, stock and barrel....they'd probably sell it for a decent price in order to try and get some of the costs back that have long languished on their books with no return...


As for QuickSink and Quickstrike? I think the need for a 1,000lb to 2,000lb warhead would outweigh any potential benefits to integrating the kit on a 500lb Paveway IV, best not to reinvent the wheel for those...Quickstrike is specifically designed to use the JDAM-ER already, I suspect Quicksink would also use the ER wing if necessary.

SDBII Stormbreaker vs SpearGlide is likely to be very similar in terms of overall weight. We know Stormbreaker is 92kgs (204lbs). I suspect SpearGlide will be almost exactly the same size. All we know about Spear's weight is that MBDA say it is <100kg (220lb's) with some commentators saying it is c90kg (198.5lbs).
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Thank you for the link to Leigh Aerospace, I'm going to nosey around this :)

mmmmm good point, go for 1000 or 2000lb (bigger better for carrier size)

Thanks for pointing out the weight between Stormbreaker and Spear Glide
 
timmymagic said:
As for QuickSink and Quickstrike? I think the need for a 1,000lb to 2,000lb warhead would outweigh any potential benefits to integrating the kit on a 500lb Paveway IV, best not to reinvent the wheel for those...Quickstrike is specifically designed to use the JDAM-ER already, I suspect Quicksink would also use the ER wing if necessary.
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A 500lb Mk82 has ~250lbs of boom in it.

Which is about the same as a lot of naval mines. Which works pretty well in shallow water. Deeper water you'd need a bigger boom.
 
timmymagic said:
There wasn't a huge amount there (not Tony Osborne's fault though, Raytheon are clearly 'floating' an early idea). Essentially Raytheon are looking to make a British derivative of SDBII, probably at the Glenrothe's, Scotland site that exclusively makes Paveway IV. How 'different' this SDBII would be from a US one is still unclear. All of this is as a result of the delays in MBDA Spear integration on F-35 at present...AND the clear need for gliding munitions, of which the UK has none, that has been seen in Ukraine.

The below is my best guess....

I think the derivative of SDBII that could be proposed is a 'Stormbreaker Simple' (I've previously evangelised for a 'SpearSimple', which eventually became the MRUSW study and now appears to be real in the form of the new, less complex than Spear, SpearGlide variant). Basically 'Stormbreaker Simple' would be a GPS/INS and probably SAL only version to make it a lot cheaper....utilising Paveway IV guidance components. Removes a lot of cost with the MMW/IIR seeker, and also doesn't step on Spear's toes as much. They may figure that this is politically palatable along with production in the UK. Using Paveway IV internals and the Stormbreaker shape, both of which are integrated already on F-35 would make integration very, very easy.

Worth noting that Raytheon also showed a Paveway IV with gliding wing kit at DSEI25 as well...something that was investigated over a decade ago that never proceeded. It could also prevent an order from happening for Boeing's SDB1...and potentially throw a spanner in the works for SpearGlide....The reason for GPS/INS AND SAL is because the UK has usually wanted a man in the loop option for guidance to avoid civilian casualties/provide greater accuracy (hence their reliance on Paveway IV rather than a JDAM style munition as their main A2G munition).
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Here's a little more on the proposed Stormbreaker for the UK from Aviation Week. Key bits highlighted...

"Meanwhile, efforts to address the lack of standoff capability are underway, Knighton said. Acquisition will be considered a priority in the defense investment plan due to be published by year-end and as part of the government’s commitment to invest more in weapon stockpiles. One option is to acquire an interim weapon, possibly the Raytheon StormBreaker glide bomb. Funding for such a weapon has been made available, but disagreement within the UK Defense Ministry has held up procurement.

One option emerged during the DSEI defense exhibition in September: developing a UK derivative of the StormBreaker dubbed the Red Kite, to be produced domestically. The Red Kite has the same form factor as the StormBreaker, which is already integrated on F-35s, and has UK-developed subsystems and a simplified guidance system.

Raytheon UK has marketed the Red Kite to the country’s defense officials over the past two years. Development and integration are expected to take around three years—which is still shorter than the projections for Spear 3."


So Red Kite is a 'Stormbreaker Simple'.

But does anyone actually believe the 3 years though? That would take us, realistically, to 2029/2030 (given governance requirements etc.). And as ever with anything related to F-35 would probably slip....

Hopefully that kills the idea stone dead...might as well wait for Spear and purchase some SDB1 as an interim weapon...
 

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